NECROPHAGIST to tour with new guitarist

Germany's pinacles of technical death metal Necrophagist have just announced the dates on their long-awaited US tour, the "Carving North America's Epitaph 2006" tour, which sets out April 28 at the New England Metal And Hardcore Festival. The quartet has a large roster of bands that will be touring with them at different times, including Cattle Decapitation, Arsis, Neuraxis, Alarum, Thine Eyes Bleed, and Into The Moat. There was also a list of Canadian dates to follow the US tour, but due to an "unethical" booking agent, they had to cancel many of the shows (of which only four will still be played). Since the release of their latest album Epitaph in 2004, the band has not been able to tour the US (a previous tour was cancelled for medical reasons, leaving hordes of fans wanting) so this is the first time they will be supporting the album.

Necrophagist, formed by guitarist Muhammed Suicmez in 1992, have also undergone a line-up change very recently, when second guitarist Christian Muenzner left the band due to scheduling conflicts. But after a relatively short audition process, the band has found new guitarist Sami Raatikainen from Finland to take his place.

The band will post more details about the Canadian dates here as soon as they become available.

Dates For "Carving North America's Epitaph 2006" Tour:
04/28 - Worcester, MA - Palladium, New England Metal & Hardcore Festival*
04/29 - Cleveland, OH*
04/30 - Detroit, MI - The Modern Exchange*
05/01 - Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall*
05/02 - Omaha, NE - The Rock*
05/03 - Denver, CO*
05/04 - Salt Lake City, UT - Burt's Tiki Lounge*
05/05 - Boise, ID*
05/06 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven*
05/07 - Spokane, WA - Fat Tuesday's*
05/08 - Portland, OR - Rock N Roll Pizza*
05/11 - Roseville, CA - The Underground
05/12 - San Francisco, CA - The Pound
05/13 - San Bernardino, CA - California Metalfest
05/14 - Phoenix, AZ - The Clubhouse
05/15 - Albuquerque, NM - The Compound
05/16 - Tulsa, OK - The Venue
05/17 - Arlington (Dallas), TX - Phoenix Music Complex
05/18 - San Antonio, TX - Graham Central Station
05/19 - Houston, TX - Java Jazz
05/20 - Baton Rouge, LA - The Darkroom
05/21 - Jacksonville, FL - Thee Imperial**
05/22 - Winter Park, FL - Island Oasis**
05/23 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL**
05/24 - Tampa, FL
05/25 - Augusta, GA - Sector 7G
05/26 - Virginia Beach, VA - Peppermint Beach Club
05/28 - Baltimore, MD - Sonar, Maryland Deathfest
05/29 - New York, NY - B.B. King's
05/31 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
* with Thine Eyes Bleed
** with Into the Moat

SOURCE: CMJ